Minister's Black Veil

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evidence points to the idea that it is a representation of sin—explaining why Mr. Hooper felt that he could never take it off. Furthermore, it is through Mr. Hooper’s sermon on “secret sin” (1133) and “those sad mysteries which we hide from our nearest and dearest, and would fain conceal from our own consciousness” (1133”) that he expresses his fear that the congregation has become as blind to their own sin as they are blind to his face. Hawthorne also later writes that some of the congregation has left the church so as to not see the veil, and he suggests that “perhaps the pale-faced congregation was almost as fearful a sight to the minister as his black veil is to them” (1133). This signifies the congregation’s denial in that they cannot stand to look at the veil, and that Mr. Hooper feared looking at them because of their reluctance in facing their own sins. Mr. Hooper finally succeeds in conveying his idea that all men are sinners when he is on his deathbed; he does ...

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